Indicia bearing device



v 14, 1940. E Q HAHN INDIGIA BEARING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1940 Fim;

Patented May 14, 194() Y ATEN carriesl 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to indicia bearing devices and aims toprovide certain improvements therein.

Among the objects of my invention the following may be enumerated: (1)to provide a device of the character set forth which is'adapted to becarried upon a key ring, key chain or the "like, and which will be insimulationof an automobile license tag bearing the license tag number ofthe owner; (2) to provide a device of the character set forth whereinthe indicia bearing element can be removed and replaced with but littleeffort without the aid of tools; (3) to provide a device of thecharacter set forth which may serve in addition to its' novelty value asmeansthrough which the identification of the owner may be ascertainedfrom some central agency or bureau; (4) to provide a device which whenused in simu- =lation of an automobile license tag may also have the keyto the automobile ignition sysem or door formed integrally therewith;(5) to provide such device which may also be used as an advertisingmedium in addition to the purposes hereinbefore stated.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention which have not beenspecically enumerated, I accomplish by providingan elongate frame withinwhich is mounted in superposed relation a plurality of blanks ofmaterial, one of said blanks being of transparent sheet material andserving as a window for the device and a protective medium for anotherof said blanks which may carry the desired indicia, and a third blankconstituting a backing member for the transparent material and indiciabearing material, the composite thickness of the blanks beingsubstantially equal to the depth of the frame vand the blanks being heldwithin the frame in a manner such as to be easily removable, whereby theindicia bearing material can be readily replaced and the partsreinserted and held in assembled relation without the aid of any toolsor implements whatever.

The invention will be better understood 'from the detailed descriptionwhich follows when considered irl connection with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an indicia bearing device embodying myinvention. l

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 when viewedfrom the left thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. l, partsthereof being broken away to illustrate certain details of construction.l

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially along the plane of the line 4 4of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a top plan .View of a modified form'of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. BWhen viewed fromthe right thereof.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the plane ofthe broken line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing the device may be said toconsist of an elongate substantially rectangular frame I having acontinuous integral face flange I I extending inwardly from one edge ofthe frame and providing a rectangular sight opening I2. The frame Ill atone end thereof is formed with a central substantially semi-circularextension I3, the top portion I4 of which is formed with an opening I5through which may extend a conventional form of exible key chain I6 orother suitable holding device. The frame with its face flange andextension may be suitably formed as a stamping from thin sheet metal orthe like.

Mounted within the frame in superposed relation are a plurality of flatblanks o-f material Il, I8 and I9. The blank I'I is preferably formed ofany transparent non-breakable material, such as Celluloid or the likeand is of a form and'size to fit within the rectangular portion oftheframe and seat against the inner face of the flange I I. The blank I8which underlies the transparent blank I1 may be formed of paper, leatheror other suitable material upon the -face of which is impressed,stamped, or otherwise applied suitable indicia I8', for example, theautomobile license plate number of the Owner. This blank I8 ispreferably also'of a size to t within the rectangular frame and be heldagainst shifting movement by the frame walls. The blank I9 is of a formcorresponding to that of the frame including the central extensionthereof and has an opening therethrough in coincident relation to theopening I5 in the flange portion I3 of the frame. The blank I9 isintended to serve as a backing member for the blanks I'I and I8 and ispreferably of substantial thickness compared to the depth of the frame.The composite thickness of the three blanks I1, I8 and I9 is such as tobe sub-` stantially equal to the depth of the frame I0 so that when theparts are in assembled relation, the device will be of substantiallyfiat form. Ifdesired, the outer surface of the blank I9 may be providedwith advertising matter, ornamentation or the like. Preferably the sizeof the blank I9 is such as to snugly fit within the frame and be heldtherein by the inherent resiliency of the frame. However, to insure asatisfactory holding of the parts in assembled relation I prefertoprovide a tab 2| extending from the rear edge of the end of the frameopposite to that which is provided with the central v extension, whichtab is bent over the outer face of the blank I9 so as to liesubstantially in a common plane therewith; To further secure the memberI9 is in place in the frame.

Notwithstanding the holding means provided by the tab 2| andindentations 22, 23, the superposed blanks I 1, I8 and I9 may be readilydisengaged from the frame when it is desired to remove or insert anindicia bearing blank, by applying finger pressure against the face ofthe blank I1 adjacent the end of the frame provided With the centralextension. In a somewhat analogous manner the parts may be reassembledby inserting the blanks I7 and I8 into the frame and then slipping theend of the blank I9 under the tab 2| and applying pressure to the otherend to force it into the frame.

In the modification of my invention as shown i in Figs. -5 to,8, theframe` I0 is substantially identical with that shown in Figs. 1 to 4except that the end opposite to that provided with the extension haspart of its wall cut away as shown at 2l to accommodate the stem portion25 of a key, the terminal portion 26 of which is shaped to t within theframe and serve as the backing member for the transparent blank lI'I andindicia bearing blank I8. As an aidin holding the key in assembledrelation to the frame the latter at its rear edge on the cut-out end isformed with a pair of spaced tabs 2| one on either side of the cut-out24, which tabs are bent over into flush engagement with the terminalportion of the key. Y

It will be apparent from a consideration of the two embodiments of myinvention as disclosed that in lieu `of the automobile license tagindicia which I have shown that any other form of indicia may besubstituted therefor. It will also be understood that if desired theindicia bearing blank I8 may be dispensed with and the desired indiciamay be impressed, stamped, engraved or otherwise applied directly on theinner face of the backing member I9 or on the inner face of the terminalportion 26 of the key.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be appreciated that Ihave provided an indicia bearing device which possesses novelty andutil-` ity and is capable of use for various purposes. It will also beunderstood that although I have shown but two specific embodiments of myinvention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction disclosed, since these may be varied within the range ofmechanical skill without departing from the spirit of my invention asdefined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An indicia bearing device of the character set forth comprisinganielongate frame formed of thin sheet metal having an integralcontinuous face ange providing` a sight opening, said frame havingmounted therein in superposed relation a plurality of blanks-ofmaterial, one of disposed in a common plane with the outer surfacethereof, and complemental indentations in the frame and the backingmember.

2. An indicia bearing device of the character set forth comprising anelongate frame having at one end thereof a central extension, said yframe having a continuous side wall and a continuous face ang'eproviding a sight opening, the portion of the flange overlying -theextension having an opening therethrough, said frame having mountedtherein in superposed relation a plurality of blanks of material, one ofsaid blanks being of transparent sheet material and seating against theinner face of the flange, another of said blanks being a sheet ofindicia bearing material, and another of said blanks being ofsubstantially the same shape and size as the frame and snugly iittedtherein and having an opening therethrough in coincident relationto theopening in the extension portion of the iiange and constituting abacking member for the rst two mentioned blanks, the blank voi' indiciabearing material being disposed between the blank of transparentmaterial and the backing member with the indicia facing the sightopening of the frame, the composite thickness of said blanks beingsubstantially equal to the depth of the side wall of the frame, andmeans for holding said blanks within the frame in the relation statedcomprising the ange on the frame and complemental ndentations inthe sidewall of the frame and in the backing member.

3. An indicia bearing device' of the character set forth comprising anintegral elongate frame of generally rectangular form having at one endthereof a central extension, said frame having a continuous face flangeproviding a sight opening of generally rectangular form, the portionofthe ange overlying the extension having an opening therethrough, saidframe having mounted therein in superposed relation a plurality ofblanks of material, one of said blanks being of transparent sheetmaterial of substantially rectangular form and seating against the innerface ofl the flange on the frame and another of said blanks being abacking member for the transparent blank and having a configurationcorresponding to that of the frame and fitting snugly within said frameand having an opening therethrough in coincident relation to the openingin the extension portion of the flange, the composite thickness of saidblanks being substantially equal Ato the depth of the frame and saidblanks being held within the frame by the face flange thereon and by atleast one tab on the rear edge of the end of the frame opposite to thatprovided with the central extension, said tab overlying the backingmember and being disposed in a common plane with the outer surfacethereof.

4. An indicia bearing device of the character set forth comprising anelongate frame of generally rectangular form having at one end thereof acentral extension. said frame having a conu tinuous face a'nge providinga sight opening ofgenerally rectangular form, the portion of the angeoverlying the extension having au opening therethrough, said framehaving mounted therein in superposed relation a plurality of blanks ofmaterial, one of said blanks being of transparent sheet material ofsubstantially rectangular form and seating ragainst the inner face ofthe iiange on the frame, and another oi said blanks being theterminalportion of' a at key, and constituting a backing member for thetransparent blank, the stem of the key projecting beyond one end of theframe, said terminal portion of the key having `a configurationcorresponding to. that of the frame and iitting .the outer surfacethereof.

snugly therein and having an opening therethrough in coincident relationto the opening in the flange overlying the extension portion of theframe, the composite thickness of the blank of transparent material andtheterminal portion of the key being substantially equal to the depth ofthe frame and saidA blanks being held within the frame by the flangethereon and by a plurality of tabs on the rear edge of the end of theframe through which the stem of the key projects, said tabs overlyingthe terminal portion of the key and disposed; in a common plane withEDWARD' C. RAHN.'

